Collapsible tray top table



Jan. 28, 1964 M. RAND COLLAPSIBLE TRAY TOP TABLE Filed June 5, 1962 FIGI FIGZ

I NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,119,641 COLLAPSIBLE TRAY TOP TABLE Morris Rand, Boston, Mass, assignor to Rand Associates, Inc., Boston, Mass. Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,123 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-1402) The present invention relates to a collapsible table which is particularly useful for retail display of merchandise. The table of this invention is extremely sturdy in its open position yet is rapidly and compactly folded for efficient storage or transportation.

Numerous types of collapsible tables are known to be particularly useful for employment for short periods of time and subsequent storage or transportation. The collapsing feature of these tables permits users to store the tables in compact storage areas.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel, collapsible table which is easily collapsed or set up for storage or usage as desired. It is another object of this invention to provide a table in accordance with the preceding object which has at least two trays providing maximum working or display surfaces and cooperating to support legs of the table.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a table in accordance with the preceding objects which is simply constructed with a minimum of components yet has a high degree of stability when set up.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a table in accordance with the preceding objects which is inexpensive to construct employing simple manufacturing procedures.

t is a further object of this invention to provide a table in accordance with the preceding objects which is particularly adapted for displaying merchandise at retail establishments and has provisions for varying exposed display areas.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a table in accordance with the preceding objects which can be efficiently stacked in a pile with other similar tables in a minimum shipping or storage area.

According to the invention, the collapsible table comprises an upper tray having a base defining a lower surface for mounting vertical legs. First and second opposed pairs of elongated rectangular cross section legs are pivotably mounted on the lower surface and support the upper tray. A cross bar is provided spaced from the base and extending between the legs of each pair. Each leg has a pivotable folding mechanism connecting it to the base and means join the folding mechanism of the legs in each pair whereby the legs of each pair may be simultaneously pivoted towards the base. A removable lower tray has opposed ends overlying and resting on the cross bar of each pair of legs. The lower tray has four angled corner portions each engaging a rectangular leg at two sides of said leg and preventing movement of the legs towards the base.

In a preferred form, the table of this invention is dimensioned so that the legs each have a length less than onehalf the length of the base. The legs are mounted so that they may be folded into substantially parallel relationship with the base to permit compact storage and facilitate stacking of a plurality of tables.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification 3,119,641 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view showing a preferred embodiment of a table of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken through line 22 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a leg and lower tray portion of a table of this invention.

A preferred form of a table is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The foldable table 10 comprises four basic sections, i.e., an upper tray 11, supporting legs 22, a lower tray 30, and folding brackets 43.

The upper tray 11, preferably has an integral rectangular plywood base 12 defining an outer peripheral edge of the table. The particular materials, size and shape of the base 12 may vary considerably depending upon the particular usage of the table. For example, in certain applications it may be desirable to provide a scalloped edge or a circular table for decorative effect. In all cases, the base 12 is preferably an integral member sufiiciently strong to provide a mounting area for legs of the table as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Four upwardly depending rectangularly arranged wall boards 28 are attached to the base 12 by means of screws 13. Preferably the walls 28 are noninterconnecting with each other. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the walls 28 has distinct end portions 33 which are not engaged with a corresponding end portion 33 of any adjacent wall. It is a feature of this invention that one or more of the walls 28 may be easily removed for display or other purposes. For example, one of the walls 28 may be removed leaving three walls 28 covering three sides of the rectangular base 12.

In the preferred form of the invention the height A of each wall 28 permits a lower tray 30 of the table to be stored within the rectangularly arranged walls 28 along with folded legs 22 of an adjacent table when the tables are'stacked. This feature is important in allowing compact storing and shipping of a plurality of foldable tables.

Four legs 22, are pivotably mounted on the lower surface of base 12 by means of individual conventional right angled brackets 34. The brackets 34 are fixed to the lowersurface of the base 12 by means of conventional screws. A pivot pin 35 pivotably attaches each leg 22 to each bracket 34 for pivotable movement of the legs allowing the lower ends of the legs to be brought to a folded position substantially adjacent the lower surface of the base 12. A space 36 is preferably provided between the upper end of each leg and the lower surface of the base 12. The space 36 prevents the square end of each leg 22 from locking against the lower surface of the base and in addition acts in conjunction with a caster cup 37 provided on the lower end of each leg to permit each leg to be folded into a position substantially parallel to the base 12.

The four legs 22 are preferably rectangular or square in cross section and of equal length. Metal has been found to be a suitable material for the legs. A hard steel is preferred because of its substantial rigidity and high load carrying ability. However, other material such as wood, plastic and the like may be employed if desired.

On the lower end of each leg 22 is mounted a force fit caster cup such as a plastic socket or rubber cup 37. Each cup 37 surrounds each leg 22 and preferably has an extension portion 38 extending beyond the outer circumference of each leg 22 a distance equal to the distance between the upper portion of each leg 22 and the base 12. Thus when legs 22 are pivoted in an arcuate manner towards the base 12, portion 38 of each leg 22 spaces the leg from the base and positions it in parallel relation to the base 12.

The four legs form opposed pairs on the left and right end of the table as seen in FIG. 1. Each pair of legs has a cross bar member 27 extending between and fixedly joined to each leg of the pair as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The cross bars 27 are preferably square in cross section and positioned substantially parallel to each other and are equally spaced from the base 12. The cross bar 27 provides additional rigidity to the legs 22 and also provide a means for supporting a lower tray 30 of the foldable table.

Each leg 22 is pivotably attached by a pivot pin to a folding bracket 43 which is in turn pivotably attached by a pivoting pin 18 to an angle iron 14 fixedly attached to the lower surface of the base 12. The folding brackets 43 comprise two arms 40 and 41, pivotably attached together by a pivot pin 19. Preferably the lower arm 41 is angled so as to space the folding bracket towards the center of the table. A strut 17 extends between and is fixedly attached to arms 40 of the brackets of each pair of legs. Strut 17 may be fixedly attached at its ends to the arms 40 by conventional means such as welding, bolting, etc. The ends of strut 17 must clear the legs 22 when the legs are folded. Therefore the lower arm 41 is angled inwardly as described above, providing for mounting of the strut 17 well within the distance between the legs. By applying an inwardly directed force to the st'rut 17, the folding bracket 43 may be collapsed or pivoted about pin 19 and correspondingly pins 18 and 20 are pivoted resulting in folding of the legs 22 against the base 12. Conversely, the legs may be extended or unfolded to their upright position by applying a force at the lower ends thereof in an outward arcuated direction. The folding bracket 43 in effect limits the movement of legs 22 past a position substantially perpendicular to the base 12.

The lower tray 30 is normally removably positioned on the support cross bars 27. The lower tray 30 comprises a lower base 25 which may be composed of a rectangular plywood material. An outer rim 24 is provided along the outer periphery of the lower base 25. The rim 24 is discontinuous at its end portions as will be more fully described. Notches 26 are located on each of the four rectangularly arranged rim portions and are fixedly attached to the peripheral edge of the base 25. Each rim portion 24 has ends defining a substantially planar mating surface 42 which is adapted to mate with a planar surface of a leg 22.

As most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 25 has a right angle cutout portion at each of its four corners. Edges of the ends 42 of the rims 24 are aligned with edges of the cutout corner portions of the base 25. When the table is in its normal upright or unfolded position, the edges 42 at either end of the rim portion of a front and back edge of the base 25 cooperate to firmly position the legs 22 in parallel rectangular relation. In effect, the lower tray 30 acts as a brace for the legs in cooperation with the bracket 43 and base 12. On the one hand, the bracket 43 prevents outward arcing of each pair of legs, while the base 25 prevents inward arcing or pivoting of the legs 22 towards the base 12.

The folding and unfolding of the table of this invention is extremely simple. When the table is to be folded from the position shown in FIG. 1, it is merely necessary to lift the lower tray 30 and tilt it slightly in one direction whereby the tray may be slid out from between the legs 22. The strut 17 may then be manipulated to fold the legs 22 into a position substantially parallel to the base 12. Reversing this procedure enables one to set up or unfold the table with simplicity.

When the table is in its folded or collapsed position the lower tray 30 may be stored within the upper tray 11.

Furthermore, .a plurality of tables may be neatly stacked for fiat storage or shipping purposes. The legs 22 of adjacent tables nest within the upper tray portions 11. When a plurality of these tables are stacked, the height of the stack is essentially the height of tray 11, multiplied by the number of tables. Of course either the lower or upper table in the stack will have an additional extension caused by the underlying folded legs 22 of that table. It is a feature of this invention that when the tables are stacked as described above, the lower table having folded legs 22 forms a base for the stack. These legs 22 being substantially parallel to the base 12 form a substantially flat mounting base as opposed to an angular base which might tend to tip a pile of tables and limit the number of tables that can be stacked together.

Preferably the legs 22 are rectangularly arranged and have a length no greater than one half the distance between opposed pairs of legs. When the legs are folded parallel to the base 12, opposed legs of each pair are aligned forming two parallel guides parallel to the base 12. The guides form a substantially fiat supporting base for a stack of tables as described above. Normally when caster cups 37 are used, the extension portion 38 is sufficiently resilient as is the base 12 to yield slightly under the weight of the table so that the folded legs touch the surface on which the tables are stacked.

The specific embodiment of this invention described above is by way of example only. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous variations. Therefore, while there have been described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as are inherent in the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable and stackable table comprising an upper tray having a base defining a lower surface for mounting downwardly depending legs thereon, first and second opposed pairs of elongated legs each leg having substantially planar sides meeting at angles and opposite one leg in the other pair, means pivotably connecting upper ends of said legs to said lower surface with said ends being spaced from said lower surface, each pair of legs having a cross bar spaced from said base and extending between legs of the pair, first means for simultaneously pivoting lower ends of said legs of said first pair of legs towards said base and second means for simultaneously pivoting lower ends of said legs of said second pair of legs towards said base, means engaged with each of said pairs of legs for restricting pivoting of each pair in a first direction past a preselected point, a removable lower tray having a fiat planar base with opposite ends overlying and resting on the cross bar of each pair of legs and with said base having portions lying between the opposite legs of said opposite pairs, a discontinuous rim secured to and extending upwardly about the periphery of said base, a pair of sections of said rim opposite each other at said opposite ends of said base with both ends of each of said pair of sections engaging planar sides of the said pair of legs at said opposite ends, a second pair of opposite sections of said rim normal to said first pair of sections with the ends of each of said second pair of sections engaging planar sides of opposite legs of said opposite pairs, said second pair of opposite sections of said rim cooperating with said legs to limit movement thereof in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and cooperating with said first pairs of opposite sections of said rim and with said legs to provide a continuous enclosure about the periphcry of said base.

2. A foldable and stackable table as set forth in claim 1 wherein said legs are inwardly offset from the periphery of said upper tray, and said upper tray is provided with References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 730,322 Weston June 9, 1903 873,117 Cassels Dec. 10, 1907 1,264,105 McGlauflin Apr. 23, 1918 1,712,890 I-Iatte May 14, 1929 6 Townes Aug. 23, 1932 Bales Jan. 7, 1941 Saussure Aug. 31, 1948 Mahr Oct. 20, 1953 Fulkerson Oct. 25, 1955 Abrahamson Aug. 25, 1959 Larson June 19, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Oct. 16, 1951 France July 18, 1960 

1. A FOLDABLE AND STACKABLE TABLE COMPRISING AN UPPER TRAY HAVING A BASE DEFINING A LOWER SURFACE FOR MOUNTING DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING LEGS THEREON, FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED PAIRS OF ELONGATED LEGS EACH LEG HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SIDES MEETING AT ANGLES AND OPPOSITE ONE LEG IN THE OTHER PAIR, MEANS PIVOTABLY CONNECTING UPPER ENDS OF SAID LEGS TO SAID LOWER SURFACE WITH SAID ENDS BEING SPACED FROM SAID LOWER SURFACE, EACH PAIR OF LEGS HAVING A CROSS BAR SPACED FROM SAID BASE AND EXTENDING BETWEEN LEGS OF THE PAIR, FIRST MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOTING LOWER ENDS OF SAID LEGS OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF LEGS TOWARDS SAID BASE AND SECOND MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PIVOTING LOWER ENDS OF SAID LEGS OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEGS TOWARDS SAID BASE, MEANS ENGAGED WITH EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF LEGS FOR RESTRICTING PIVOTING OF EACH PAIR IN A FIRST DIRECTION PAST A PRESELECTED POINT, A REMOVABLE LOWER TRAY HAVING A FLAT PLANAR BASE WITH OPPOSITE ENDS OVERLYING AND RESTING ON THE CROSS BAR OF EACH PAIR OF LEGS AND WITH SAID BASE HAVING PORTIONS LYING BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE LEGS OF SAID OPPOSITE PAIRS, A DISCONTINUOUS RIM SECURED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BASE, A PAIR OF SECTIONS OF SAID RIM OPPOSITE EACH OTHER AT SAID OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BASE WITH BOTH ENDS OF EACH OF SAID PAIR OF SECTIONS ENGAGING PLANAR SIDES OF THE SAID PAIR OF LEGS AT SAID OPPOSITE ENDS, A SECOND PAIR OF OPPOSITE SECTIONS OF SAID RIM NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF SECTIONS WITH THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF SECTIONS ENGAGING PLANAR SIDES OF OPPOSITE LEGS OF SAID OPPOSITE PAIRS, SAID SECOND PAIR OF OPPOSITE SECTIONS OF SAID RIM COOPERATING WITH SAID LEGS TO LIMIT MOVEMENT THEREOF IN A SECOND DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION, AND COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST PAIRS OF OPPOSITE SECTIONS OF SAID RIM AND WITH SAID LEGS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS ENCLOSURE ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BASE. 